HOWLAND — The Ohio Department of Transportation is seeking public input on a planned intersection improvement project at state Route 46 and Warren-Sharon Road, which is known as Howland Corners.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, public meetings that would usually be held in person for ODOT officials to receive public input from residents are being done online through a virtual open house where a pre-recorded presentation and all materials regarding the project are available at http://www.publicinput.com/TRU109520.

“This is a big project, not only for Howland Township, but Trumbull County as well. It will make traveling at the intersection safer going north, south, east and west,” said Howland Township Administrator Darlene St. George.

St. George said there are often accidents at the intersection when people are making left turns in any direction. She said people often try to get through the yellow lights before they turn red and often get hit by another vehicle going through the intersection.

“We are really excited that this project will get done. There is a need for the improvements and widening since it is a very busy location and accidents have happened there before,” St. George said.

According to a traffic study, there have been 90 crashes at the intersection from 2012 to 2016, with 23 percent resulting in injury. Most of the crashes are rear end, sideswipe passing and angle crashes, with most of them happening between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., the study shows.

ODOT officials said project construction is expected to begin in spring 2025 and last approximately seven months. When construction gets underway, signs will be posted to direct traffic and also to let people know when it will take place.

Sean Carpenter, ODOT District 4 environmental specialist, said the proposed project is in the preliminary engineering phase that includes surveys, environmental studies, engineering and preliminary design tasks. Completion of the preliminary engineering phase is expected this month.

Carpenter said the project is expected to require minor permanent and temporary rights-of-way with a minimum of one lane of traffic in each direction maintained throughout construction.

Access to all commercial and residential properties also will be maintained. Pedestrian traffic also will be maintained via existing sidewalks and detour routes.

Howland Trustee Chairman Rick Clark said the intersection is very busy and once the diverging diamond project at the intersection of state Routes 46 and 82 is done, it likely will bring more traffic north to Howland Corners.

“ODOT has done some improvements already at the intersection with lane realignment and improvements to turning lanes to improve traffic flow,” Clark said.

He said whatever is done at the intersection, it will need to be widened.

“There are a lot of businesses in the area and a lot of traffic that goes through that intersection so improvements need to be made,” Clark said.

He said ODOT appreciates public input on projects, and since an in-person meeting can’t be held ODOT is doing things online.

Officials said the virtual open house has a presentation to explain the overall project, present the findings from the safety study (including the potential impacts) and receive input.

The public is asked to review the presentation and project materials and provide feedback. Comments regarding the project may be submitted on the website through the comment submittal form, or by direct contact at the number below. Comments are welcome at any time but must be received by Feb. 19 to be considered during this phase of development.

Individuals without internet access can request a transcript and hard copy of the materials by contacting ODOT District 4.

Questions or comments may be directed to Carpenter at 330-786-2274 or Sean.Carpenter@dot.ohio.gov

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The Ohio Department of Transportation will present project information online regarding the state Route 46/Warren-Sharon Road intersection improvements. The recorded presentation and all materials regarding the project will be available at http://www.publicinput.com/TRU109520